Esophageal Cancer Support Group

Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. There are various subtypes. Esophageal tumors usually lead to dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), pain and other symptoms, and is diagnosed with biopsy. Small and localized tumors are treated with surgery, and advanced tumors are treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or combinations.

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daughter13 10/17/2013

Hi all, hope you don't mind me venting. It has been a trying week. I am pleased to say that my dad made it through the surgery. (At first doctors were reluctant to do surgery due to the fact that he had a heart attack in September 2012.) The first two days were great. On day three he had low oxygen and very rapid heart beat. I was not too surprised thanks to reading other peoples experiences. He then got a high fever. Blood tests show infection in blood, and X-ray shows pneumonia. He was put on three different types of antibiotics which has caused terrible diarrhea. He went for his swallow test only to find there is a small leak. They are going to wait a few days to a week and do a cat scan. He cannot drink anything until then. Over the last two days he has become delirious, hallucinating and very out of it. Doctors say it could be the infection as well as "ICU Delerium". Today he is doing better medically. Oxygen, heart rate are better and fever although still there is lower. I am rejoicing that the two suspicious nodes found in the stomach are cancer free and know that in the end this surgery is life saving and worth it. Just very difficult to watch my dad like this. He is completely desperate to drink something. It is so unfortunate that more $ is not given to esophageal cancer to help find anaesthetic spray of some sorts that could help. The desperation for water is making him more agitated. Wish I could do something. I know with the first sip of water that he will hopefully take and being in stable mind will help me forget this week! Shew - if you are still reading, thx!

prayinglots 10/18/2013

thanks for the update of your dad. I know it's hard to watch you go through this. your dad allowed to use a sponge on a stick with a sponge on the end? My husband was allowed to use that until he could drink. However, he needed it lessafter a couple of days, do you think they are giving him enough fluids? Prayers your way

Brenda2008 10/18/2013

That sounds very rough. I'm praying that the antibiotics get him feeling well real soon There's been another daughter posting that her Dad had surgery recently & had a small leak, so maybe you've seen her posts. I hope her Dad is doing well now. That first week can be challenging, especially when things crop up in some. I didn't have bumps in my recovery, but they knew they would keep me in ICU for 5 days. That's typical for the Drs. I had. The total hospital stay they expected for me was 10-14. Because I had no leaks, infections, or other issues I was released about 8 days, but there is no rush - complete recovery is worth the time needed and different for everyone. Praying for your Dad & you. Hugs, Brenda

daughter13 10/18/2013

Thx everybody. Today was a better day!

Linda65401 10/19/2013

So glad to hear that today was a little better. My sister also had a sponge to use to keep her mouth moistened. It helped a lot. Thinking of your dad and you.

deleted_user 10/19/2013

This is so reminiscent of my dad's situation. He also got a blood infection and was out on antibiotics immediately. All I your dad's vitals were exactly what my dad's were ... It's the body's response to the trauma and infection. It will clear up. To battle the pneumonia, try to get gim coughing and moving and using his spirometer as much as possible to clear those lungs.

As for the leak, my dad had a pinhole leak 8 days post surgery. After 4 days of ice chips, the leak healed only to be broken open by some soft food 3 days later. We are almost at 4 weeks and he is back on soft foods and doing great.

There were times at the hospital that I thought I couldn't emotionally take any more. But you can and will. All in the name of his full recovery.

Keep positive. Ask the doctors all the questions you can. Trust that they know what they are doing. You are right ... In the end, this will be worth it.

The best advice I received was to talk about things that are not related to his condition. Try to bring normalcy to the hospital. Focusing on things other than how shitty he feels will help lift his spirit. I'm sure having you there means the world to him.

daughter13 10/19/2013

Mhoehn I am so glad that your dad is doing better. I know that you were one week ahead of me ! I kept in mind a lot of the advice you had given, filling the empty silence with chit chat about nothing in particular. Did your dad have any confusion/ delerium after surgery?

deleted_user 10/20/2013

My dad did have confusion and hallucinations which were a result of the morphine. He would see fish hanging from the ceiling and would ask me if we were going golfing tomorrow.

daughter13 10/20/2013

Shew - as long as it goes. How is your dad doing today? Also how long after the leak was "closed" did he leave the hospital.

deleted_user 10/21/2013

Dad is doing very well all things considered. He was released two days after the second leak on a liquid diet. Hard for me to trust the surgeon who said the leak would probably re-heal in a matter of days. He was in the hospital for a total of 18 days. We were released but still see his surgeon every week. He shows no clinical symptoms of the leak still being there so he was graduated to pured foods for the next week or so. It's 4 weeks post surgery tomorrow and he was in the city getting groceries yesterday and is coming to my house for supper tonight. Tonight we will have pured roast beef, mashed potatoes and mashed carrots with lots of gravy and he can probably eat about a fist-size at a time. He is about 12 lbs under the weight he was pre surgery but is having lots of protein shakes and ice cream. He did have an issue with lactose following surgery. Gave him stomach cramps and diarrhea. We also bought him a wedge pillow for sleeping which he really likes. Keeps you at a 30 degree angle. Not sure what else I can tell you ... How is your dad doing today??

deleted_user 11/16/2013

I can relate to extreme thirst. My surgeon was so conservative that he made me wait a whole month for any fluids by mouth. What I was allowed, however, was chewing on ice chips - as long as I spit them out. I'll admit cheating a bit and swallowing some melted ice chips. Other surgeons have patients drinking almost immediately. I think some docs worry about leaks early on.

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